Ignition device and system for internal-combustion engines



' E. .1. BROWN ET AL INITION DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 12 1922 7 Dec. 14 1926.

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EARLE 3'. BROWN AND WILLARD B. TALLEBDY, Q15 BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, AS- SIGNORS OF TI-IREE-FIFTHS T0 HANS E. DINESON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IGNITION DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed January 12, 1922. Serial No. 528,6 l8.

This invention relates to ignition devices and systems for internal combustion engines.

The object of the invention'is to provide a simple and inexpensive ignition device which will operate on the make-and-break principle to produce an eflicient and reliable system of ignition capable of being employed in connection with an engine, more especially an automobile engine, as a substitute for the jump-spark ignition systems heretofore employed.

In the jump-spark systems of ignition, a primary current is converted by an induction coil into a secondary current of silt iiciently high tension to cause a spark to jump an air gap. With these systems timers and spark plugs must be employed, together with timing gears, etc. The present invention aims to produce a device which can be substituted in an engine cylinder to perform the same function as heretofore performed by a spark plug, and to provide a system rendering the several devices of the diiferent cylinders of an engine operative to perform their intended function.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, theinvention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative of the principlesof the invention and meant to in no way limit the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; V

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system and so much of an automobile engine as is necessary to show the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an. enlarged scale, of an ignition device of the system when the movable parts thereof are in the position in which shown in cylinder 1 of 1; I

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with the showing of Fig. 2, but disclosing the movable parts of the ignition device in the position they will be during a later phase of the intake stroke of the piston; and

Fig. 4 is a detail of the circuit breaker.

Referring to the drawing A denotes a four cylinder, four cycle automobile engine including the cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4, the piston of the cylinder 1 being shown at the instant after the explosion has occurred, that is, at the commencement of the firing stroke. The piston of the cylinder 4 is at this time, as shown, starting downward on the intake stroke, while the pistons of the cylinders 2 and 3 are starting upward, the piston of the cylinder 2 commencing its exhaust stroke and the piston of the cylinder 3 commencing its compression stroke.

Numeral 1O denotes the shell of each ignition deviceof the invention which may be constructed to be screwed into a threaded hole in the wall of a combustion chamber as a substitute for a spark plug and 11 denotes a cap screwed upon the open end 12 of each shell in any preferred manner, as by means of the threads 13. The necks 14; of each of the shells which as shown, are secured in the cylin ers 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, are each provided with terminal ends 15 having connection, as by means of binding posts 16, with lead wire 17 from a source of current supply, as, for example, battery, the terminals being arranged within the necks and being insulated therefrom as at 18.

Each shell 10 is for the purpose of supporting and grounding a circuit breaker which is adapted to first connect with the terminal 15 of the shell to make a circuitand to then be withdrawn from said terminal to make a spark. The circuit breaker may be supported in the shell in any suitable manner. As shown, a truck piston 19 is slidablyarranged in the shell 10. A carrier 20 is adjustably suspended therefrom as denoted at 21, and the circuit breaker 22 is arranged to have sidewise movement on the carrier. Referring more especially to Fig. 4: it will be seen that the circuit breaker is a metallic disc arranged between the two washers, denoted 23, the position of one of said washers being insured by the nut 24; and the position of the other washer being insured by the coil spring 25 seated against said other washer and against a collar 26 on the carrier 20.

Numeral 27 denotes a lug arranged in each neck 14- opposite the terminal end 15 and beneath said terminal end for resetting the circuit breaker in a manner which will be explained.

The timing devices of the invention, denoted generally at 28,0311 be of any.con-' struction. As shown, each ignition device is provided with a timing device, the timing devices consisting of air valves arranged in the caps 11 and all adapted to be simultaneously manipulated by a rod 29 controlled in any manner, as from the dash of an automobile.

The manner in which the ignition device and system operate will now be described. Referring to Fig. 1 and to the several cylinders there shown, it will be seen that the cylinder pistons of cylinders 1 and l are at or near the upper end of their str kes while the cylinder pistons of cylinders 2 ant 3 are at or near the lower end of their strokes. The shell or trunk piston of cylinder 1 is in the position where the circuit breaker has just been released from the terminal end to produce the spark causing the explosion. Naturally, this trunk piston is forced upwardly toward or against the cap 11 by the explosion and will remain in an elevated position during the exhaust stroke of the cylinder piston. As the cylinder piston then descends .on its intake stroke, the suction will draw the trunk piston downwardly as in cylinder 3 of Fig. 1, and in Fig. 3, the lug 27 causing the circuit breaker to be reset; that is, the circuit breaker resetter will mov the disc 22 from left to right in the several figures of the drawing. See the dotted lines in Fig. 2. So that as the cylinder piston again ascends on its compression strok the circuit breaker will be in position to first engage the terminal 15 and then be released therefrom to make the spark. Naturally, the terminal end forces the circuit breaker from right to left, as shown, so that on the intake stroke the circuit breaker will not engage the terminal end.

The trunk pistons of the devices of cylinders 2, 3 and 3 will, obviously, similarly operate in conjunction with the cylinder pistons of said cylinders in the manner described in connection with the device of cylinder 1; that is, in thecase of cylinder 2, where the cylinder piston is about to make its exhaust stroke, the trunk piston is adjacent the cap 11; in the case of cylinder 3, where the cylinder piston is about to make its compression stroke, the trunk piston is in its lowest position; and in the case of cylinder 4, where the cylinder piston is about to make its suction stroke, the trunk piston is adjacent the cap 11. t is evident that the rate of speed of movement of the several trunk pistons in their shells is dependent upon the air pressure within the shells 10 above the trunk pistons. Consequently, the air valves supply the only timing device necessary in the system. To advance or retard the spark all that is necessary is to manipulate the rod 29 to move the air valves toward their full open or completely closed positions.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ignition system for firing charges. in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, co1'i.:prising an ignition device in a cylinder capable of making and breaking a circuit to produce a spark, the ignition device including electrodes normally out of contact, and a timing device for said ignition device, said timing device including a movable member having one of said electrodes, and means controlling the rate of speed at which said member can move.

2. [in ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, con'iprising a make and break ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, and a timing device for said ignition device, said timing device including a movable member and an adjustable air valve controlling the rate of speed at which said member can move.

3. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, comprising an ignition device in each c finder capable of making and breaking a circuit to produce a spark, and means for simultaneously controlling all of said ignition devices to advance or retard iid spark, said means including a movable riei'nber and an adjustable air valve controlling the rate of speed at which said member can move.

Fin ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to con'imunicate with the combustion chamber thereof, each ignition device including electrodes normally out of contact, and capable of making and breaking a circuit, and a timing device associated with each ignition device, said timing device including a movable member carrying one of said electrodes, and means controlling the rate of speed at which said member can move.

5. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, each ignition device including electrodes normally out of contact, and a timing device on each ignition device, each timing device including a movable piston with which one of said electrodes moves, and means controlling the rate of speed at which the piston can move.

6. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, each ignition device including electrodes normally out of contact, and a common timing device for llO each ignition device, said timing device including a plurality of movable pistons each carrying an electrode, and a single means controlling the rate of speed at which each piston can move.

7. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, each igni tion device including electrodes normally out of contact, and a common timing device for each ignition device, said timing device including a plurality of movable pistons each carrying an electrode, and means controlling the rate of speed at which all of the pistons can move.

8. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, and a timing device associated with each ignition device, said ignition devices each including a stationary and movable terminal, said movable terminal being actuated in the case of each cylinder by the piston thereof, and said timing devices being each constituted by an air valve controlling the rate of speed at which the movable terminal can move.

9. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines comprising an ignition device associated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, and a timing device associated with each ignition de vice, each of said timing devices including a small piston adapted to be actuated by a cylinder piston and also including an an air valve controlling the rate of speed at which the small piston can move. 7

10. An ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines comprising an ignition device asssociated with each cylinder to communicate with the combustion chamber thereof, said ignition device consisting of a shell, a small piston slidable in the shell, a terminal carried by the shell and insulated therefrom, and a contact carried by the small piston and adapted to engage the terminal to make a circuit and to be Withdrawn therefrom to make a spark, said shell including a chamber above said small piston, and a timing device above said chamber, said timing device being constituted by an air valve.

11. In an ignition system for firing charges'in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, an ignition device consisting of a shell associated with an engine cylinder to have communication with the combustion chamber thereof, a terminal inthe shell and insulated therefrom, a small piston in the shell, a contact carried by the small piston,

there being a chamber in the shell above the small piston, whereby the small piston can be controlled by the movements of the cylinder piston to make and break a circuit to produce a spark, and a timing device consisting of an air valve in a wall of said chamber.

12. In an ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, an ignition device associated with each cylinder, and a timing device associated with each ignition device, each timing device including a small piston adapted to be actuated by the cylinder piston and an air valve controlling the rate of speed at which the small piston can move.

13.111 an ignition system for firing charges in the cylinders of internal combustion engines, an ignition device associated with each cylinder and including electrodes which are normally out oi contact, a timing device, associated with each ignition device and including a small piston with which one of said electrodes moves, and means controlling the rate of speed at which the small piston can move. I

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut this 11th day of January, A. D. 1922.

EARLE J. BROWN, WILLARD B. TALLERDY.

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